Syracuse, N.Y. – Redshirt freshman pitcher Laura Bennett (Corning, N.Y./Corning-Painted Post) struck out 11 batters to lead the Le Moyne College softball team to an 11-3 victory over American International College in the second game of a Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at the Thomas J. Niland Athletic Complex. The Yellow Jackets rallied in the seventh inning for a 4-3 win in the opener.

Le Moyne put up six runs on seven hits in the second inning of game two. Junior catcher Cassidy Barrett (Apalachin, N.Y./Vestal) led off with a single through the right side and advanced to second on an error by the right fielder. Freshman designated player/pitcher Lindsey Dobbs (Schenectady, N.Y./Colonie) followed with an infield single and then stole second base. Junior right fielder Victoria Catalano (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) then singled to center to drive in Barrett. Sophomore third baseman Makenzie Konik (Scotia, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) followed with a double to right center to plate Dobbs and Catalano and force a pitching change. After a single to left by graduate student first baseman Taylor Artley (York Haven, Pa./Red Land), Konik raced home on a wild pitch. Senior shortstop Kaily LaForce (Binghamton, N.Y./Binghamton) then tripled to left field to knock in Artley, while scoring four batters later on a single by Barrett.

The Dolphins added two runs in the third inning on four hits and one AIC error. Dobbs led off with a single to the shortstop and moved around to third as Catalano reached on a dropped fly by the left fielder. After an out, Artley singled to drive in Dobbs. LaForce then singled to right center to plate Catalano.

Le Moyne put up two more runs in the fourth to take a 10-0 lead. Sophomore center fielder Dominique Russo (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay) led off with a single to center and moved to second as Barrett reached on a fielding error by the second baseman. After a groundout, Catalano doubled to right center to drive in Russo and Dobbs.

American International staved off defeat with three runs in the top of the fifth. Third baseman Kodi Gora led off with a single to right field, moved to second on a groundout and took third on a single by center fielder Abigail Wells. Shortstop Jalia Santos then singled to right field to drive in Gora and Wells. Right fielder Olivia Ortega followed with a double to right center to knock in Santos.

The Dolphins closed out the game with a run in the bottom of the sixth. Russo reached on an error by the shortstop to start the frame, took second on a single down the third base line by freshman second baseman Brooke Nicolaos (Liverpool, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) and then scored on a single to right field by Barrett.

Bennett registered at least two strikeouts in each of the first five innings en route to her second win of the season. Seven of the nine Dolphins in the lineup had at least two hits, led by Barrett with three. Riley Sullivan took the loss for the Yellow Jackets after allowing four runs over one-plus inning.

Le Moyne got the scoring started in the opening game with a run in the first inning. Russo drew a walk with one out, stole second and scored on a double to left center by Nicolaos.

The Yellow Jackets took their first lead of the day with two runs in the fourth inning. First baseman Brianna Rivera led off with a single to center and moved to second on a one-out walk by catcher Victoria Andrade. Following a strikeout and a walk to load the bases, Wells singled to second base to drive in Rivera. Santos then singled through the right side to plate Andrade and force a Le Moyne pitching change.

Le Moyne regained the lead with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Konik led off with a single through the right side and later moved to second on an error by the catcher. After a single by Artley, Konik scored on a sacrifice bunt by LaForce. Sophomore left fielder Jillian Dunn (Fiskdale, Mass./Tantasqua Regional) then singled to the pitcher to drive in Artley.

American International scored twice in the top of the seventh to earn the win. Rivera singled to left field with one out and was replaced at first by pinch-runner Brianna Harzula. Following singles by Alexis Jimenez and Andrade to load the bases, Gora singled to right center to plate Harzula and Jimenez.

Dobbs took the loss in the circle after yielding two runs and seven hits over three and one-third innings. Isabella Erti earned the victory after striking out three over seven innings, while allowing three runs.
 
Le Moyne (2-4, 2-4 NE10) and the Yellow Jackets wrap up the four-game series on Sunday with a doubleheader beginning at 10:00 a.m.